Shortlist: By no means an upswing
Shortlist: An upturn, my ass By Beat Fritsch As surely as a hangover follows the New Year's Eve rush, the Epiphany conference of the Swiss Press Association follows right on time at the beginning of the year. A welcome opportunity for the highest, highest and middle
Shortlist: By no means an upswing
By Beat Fritsch
As surely as the hangover follows the New Year's Eve rush, the Epiphany Conference of the Swiss Press Association follows right on time at the beginning of the year. A welcome opportunity for top, senior and middle management from Swiss publishing houses to wish each other a Happy New Year. It is also an opportunity to take stock of the current situation, be it of a personal or general nature.
In terms of personnel, because the guest list is an excellent way of finding out who has changed jobs since the last conference or is currently available. These exponents are often well-known former executives and now appear on the list as freelance consultants - that's what unemployed, self-respecting publishing specialists call themselves these days. Which in turn attracts recruitment agencies: The recruitment consultants Hélène Müller and Hans Hofmann were very busy. The Dreikönigstagung is a first-class bazaar for both of them.
Hans Heinrich Coninx is still looking for a successor. Not for his parent company Tamedia, mind you, but in his role as President of the association. He is in discussion with very valid candidates and hopes that this will really be his last welcoming speech at an Epiphany conference, he told WerbeWoche. Coninx actually wanted to hand over his office at the Publishers' Congress last September, but has not yet found a replacement.
The succession plan for the operational part of the association proceeded more quickly. Announced in the program as a surprise guest, the designated new Managing Director of the association, Daniel Kaczynski, gave his inaugural speech. Incidentally, the spelling shown here is correct, but he is hardened when it comes to the spelling of his name, according to Kaczynski. No problem, by the way, as long as
he is not confused with the creative Kazcy (Katzky? Cazzki? or even: Catsky?).
Presenter Karl Lüönd solved the riddle of why the new CEO should now be a surprise guest: Because the media industry is fast-moving, he said, this section keeps speaking time open for unforeseen or hot topics. "However, I didn't think it would affect my own store," joked Lüönd. After all, Eva Keller only remained in the post of Managing Director for just under one and a half years; as is well known, she is the designated successor to Ringier Group spokesperson Fridolin Luchsinger. When the conference program went to press, however, her successor was still a well-kept secret, which is why Kaczynski was given the honour of surprise guest.
The general part of the conference, i.e. the presentations, was not exactly brimming with optimism. Everywhere the admonishing finger was raised or salt was poured into open wounds. As a result, none of the speakers wanted to give any more upswing forecasts. Quality, credibility, reputation and value management were the core topics of the presentations. After all, the closest number currently being mentioned in connection with the word "upturn" is 2004, and so far it has only been whispered very quietly. Bruno Widmer, Chairman of the Board of Advico Young & Rubicam, put it positively at the beginning of his presentation: "I am confident that things will continue to be difficult in 2003."
Beat Fritsch with an Epiphany crown plagiarism on his head. Once again, someone else bit into the only plastic king that is hidden in over three hundred pieces of king cake at the Epiphany Conference of the Swiss Press Association. This year's prize was a Treo organizer. But a visit to the conference at the WTC in Zurich-Oerlikon is also worthwhile in other respects. It's an opportunity to send out New Year's wishes to all those who were missing from the Christmas card mailing list.
In 2003, we will be attending a wide variety of events in the communications, media and publishing industries to find out where meetings, parties and royal dinners will be held. Do you already have something to report? Pick up the phone (01 296 97 98) or hit the keys (info@werbewo che.ch). Event tips and occasional shortlist pictures are available online at www.werbewoche.ch
By Beat Fritsch
As surely as the hangover follows the New Year's Eve rush, the Epiphany Conference of the Swiss Press Association follows right on time at the beginning of the year. A welcome opportunity for top, senior and middle management from Swiss publishing houses to wish each other a Happy New Year. It is also an opportunity to take stock of the current situation, be it of a personal or general nature.
In terms of personnel, because the guest list is an excellent way of finding out who has changed jobs since the last conference or is currently available. These exponents are often well-known former executives and now appear on the list as freelance consultants - that's what unemployed, self-respecting publishing specialists call themselves these days. Which in turn attracts recruitment agencies: The recruitment consultants Hélène Müller and Hans Hofmann were very busy. The Dreikönigstagung is a first-class bazaar for both of them.
Hans Heinrich Coninx is still looking for a successor. Not for his parent company Tamedia, mind you, but in his role as President of the association. He is in discussion with very valid candidates and hopes that this will really be his last welcoming speech at an Epiphany conference, he told WerbeWoche. Coninx actually wanted to hand over his office at the Publishers' Congress last September, but has not yet found a replacement.
The succession plan for the operational part of the association proceeded more quickly. Announced in the program as a surprise guest, the designated new Managing Director of the association, Daniel Kaczynski, gave his inaugural speech. Incidentally, the spelling shown here is correct, but he is hardened when it comes to the spelling of his name, according to Kaczynski. No problem, by the way, as long as
he is not confused with the creative Kazcy (Katzky? Cazzki? or even: Catsky?).
Presenter Karl Lüönd solved the riddle of why the new CEO should now be a surprise guest: Because the media industry is fast-moving, he said, this section keeps speaking time open for unforeseen or hot topics. "However, I didn't think it would affect my own store," joked Lüönd. After all, Eva Keller only remained in the post of Managing Director for just under one and a half years; as is well known, she is the designated successor to Ringier Group spokesperson Fridolin Luchsinger. When the conference program went to press, however, her successor was still a well-kept secret, which is why Kaczynski was given the honour of surprise guest.
The general part of the conference, i.e. the presentations, was not exactly brimming with optimism. Everywhere the admonishing finger was raised or salt was poured into open wounds. As a result, none of the speakers wanted to give any more upswing forecasts. Quality, credibility, reputation and value management were the core topics of the presentations. After all, the closest number currently being mentioned in connection with the word "upturn" is 2004, and so far it has only been whispered very quietly. Bruno Widmer, Chairman of the Board of Advico Young & Rubicam, put it positively at the beginning of his presentation: "I am confident that things will continue to be difficult in 2003."
Beat Fritsch with an Epiphany crown plagiarism on his head. Once again, someone else bit into the only plastic king that is hidden in over three hundred pieces of king cake at the Epiphany Conference of the Swiss Press Association. This year's prize was a Treo organizer. But a visit to the conference at the WTC in Zurich-Oerlikon is also worthwhile in other respects. It's an opportunity to send out New Year's wishes to all those who were missing from the Christmas card mailing list.
In 2003, we will be attending a wide variety of events in the communications, media and publishing industries to find out where meetings, parties and royal dinners will be held. Do you already have something to report? Pick up the phone (01 296 97 98) or hit the keys (info@werbewo che.ch). Event tips and occasional shortlist pictures are available online at www.werbewoche.ch
